Process oxi cleaning eibeabms



Patented July' 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- WILBERT J. HUFI, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. I PROCESS OI CLEANING- FIREARMS.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to the process of removing corrosive residues deposited in the bores of firearms by explosion, and consists essentially in the solution of the said residues in a suitably compounded aqueous emulsion. This invention has for its object the rendering of the cleaning process more efiicient, safer, and more convenient.

By the. term emulsion as used in the specifications and claims herein presented, 1 refer to a liquid mixture of two or more phases dispersed either permanently or termporarily the one in the other in minute milky globules by the aid of a so-called peptizing' agent or agents. 7

In removing corrosive residues from firearms it has hitherto been the practice to use chiefly preparations containing various organic materials such as various alcohols,

0 acetone, amylacetate, etc. to dissolve orgamc residues such as nitrocellulose or to use various alkaline compositions designed to neutralize acid products of explosion.

However, I have discovered that the dam gerous corrosion which proceeds at times even under oil films is caused chiefly by the deposition upon the bore surface of a water soluble salt, potassium chloride, from the decomposition of the chlorate of the primer.

I may therefore effect the solution of the soluble salt by an aqueous medium without necessarily employing a nitrocellulose solvent or an alkali, and in so doing secure satisfactory protection against this dangerous form of corrosion.

For the removal of the water soluble salt a variety of aqueous preparations may of course be employed. I prefer to use only a solution which is not corrosive, since this solution may be allowed to reach the breech mechanism from which it may be difli'cult to remove and upon which it may remain. If corrosive, it ma thereby cause considerable damage to the rearm. I also prefer to use only an aqueous preparation which upon evaporation will not deposit a solid residue, since the cleaning preparation may be allowed to evaporate upon the bore surface. A solid residue mi ht obstruct the passage of the projectile and so cause serious damage and even loss of life.

I have discovered that the above desirable Application filed January 28, 1924. Serial No. 689,150.

qualities can best be secured by the use of certain non-corrosive aqueous emulsions, the water of which serves to dissolve the corrosive salty residue, while one or moreof the other constituents serves to protect the metal from corrosion. For the non-aqueous l1qu 1d or liquids I may use a variety of orgame materials. However, I prefer to use chiefly a non-volatile, non-corrosive oil of relatively low viscosity since this furnishes a residue which does not interfere with the passage of the projectile and which blends readily with oils or greases which may subsequently be applied to protect the bore surface. As those skilled in the art know, a great variety of oils meet these conditions, among which are paraffin, naphthene, orother hydrocarbons or mixtures of hydrocarbons which are normal constituents of petroleum oil fractions having boiling points above approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit and solidifying points below approximately 32 degrees Fahrenheit. In commercial practice such oils can generally be obtained as kerosenes, absorbent oils, transformer oils, spindle oils, light lubricating oils, and other oils or mixtures of oils having the viscosities and boiling points indicated above. Other oils may be used, for example, lard oils. However my invention does not reside merely in the use of a neutral oil, but in the use of a substantially water insoluble organic liquid which blends with oil and tends to displace water from contact with iron or steel, thus checking the electrolytic corrosion of the metal. Thus I may use organic materials such as oleic acid or aniline or mixtures of such materials and oils as the non-aqueous phase of the emulsion. As a peptizing agent I may use one or more of a variety of materials known to those skilled in the art of making emulsions. I prefer in general to use only organic peptizin agents, or other peptizing agents which, W en subjected to the high heats which often prevail upon the bore surface, do not give abrasive or obstructing non-volatile residues. Important and well-known examples of such agents are the soaps, such as the sodium, po tassium, and ammonium salts ofoleic and stearic acids. Soaps containing strong organic bases may be used. Various other free flowing organic peptizing agents may be employed if preferred provided the resulting emulsion is made non-corrosive, free-flowing, of a sufliciently high water content, and does not give sticky orvarnish-like films when exposed to the air for some time.

, It will be noted that my process differs distinctly from the prior art in that it does not depend upon the solution of nitrocellulose or other organic powder residues, and consequently I am not obliged to use organic solvents for such residues; nor does it depend upon the neutralization of acids, consequently I am not obliged to use various alkaline neutralizing agents hitherto employed for. such a purpose, such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, potasium. carbonate, sodium carbonate, or other well known alkaline. agents. By eliminating the use of such materials, my process possesses a distinct advantage.

I am aware that emulsions have hitherto been employed for cleaning firearms, and I do not claim the use of all emulsions broadly. However, the emulsions'so used have hitherto either not contained suflicient water to properly dissolve the water soluble corrosive residue, or they have been so viscous that the user could not efiect satisfactory solution of the corrosive salty residue. These emulsions have therefore failed to properly dissolve water soluble residues and these incompletely cleansed firearms have consequently been subject to attack at high humidities. The use of such an agent therefore does not constitute an anticipation. of my invention.

By the term aqueous emulsion I refer to a free-flowing emulsion containing so much water that it will readily dissolve the corrosive salty residue when brought in contact with this.

Those skilled in the art of making emulsions will readily perceive that a great variety of emulsions may be used for my process. The following is suitable:

- Parts. Prime lard oil 30 Light lubricating oil 30 Ammonium oleate 4 Distilled water 36 Before using, the emulsion should be thoroughly blended. It may then be applied to the bore surface by swabbing or pumping in order to bring the corrosive material rapidly into solution. The cleaning process should be repeated a number of times with fresh portions of the emulsion in order to effect complete solution of the corrosive fouling. The contaminated emulsion and fouling should be promptly removed from the firearm.

The repeated treatment of the bore surface with fresh portions of the emulsion causes a substantial flushing out of the inaccessible pits and tool scars on the face of the bore surface. It is in the cleansing and protection of these that my process offers important advantages. Previous processes using the previously described organic materials and ineffective emulsions failed to remove the corrosive salt from these lodgments while aqueous solutions would trap in the cavities and hinder or prevent the ingress of subsequently added protective oils and greases. By my invention, however, the corrosive salts are dissolved and flushed out and the residual liquid left within the cavit is of such a nature that it readily blen s with the oil or grease which may iubsequently be spread upon the bore surace.

As those skilled in, the art of making emulsions will readily perceive, my invention may be carried out with emulsions of widely difierent water content, and the water content cannot be closely defined. It is merely necessary to have sufficient water in the emulsion to form an aqueous phase so that it may be caused to flow over, meet with and dissolve the corrosive salty residue. The viscosity of the emulsion, is however, important since this determines the property of fresh portions of the emulsion to reach the undissolved residues. I am therefore obliged to describe my emulsions as aqueous meaning thereby that they contain an aqueous phase and free-flowing as contrasted with viscous, and my invention involves as an essential feature the use of an emulsion which is free flowing, aqueous and has as one phase an organic liquid which blends with oil or grease.

After I have dissolved and removed the corrosive residue, as described above, I may proceed in a variet of ways. Thus I may remove substantia ly all of the aqueous emulsion by swabbing, and apply oil or grease to the bore surface in preparation for further use or storage; or I may proceed to remove substantially all of the emulsion and then follow a process for the removal of all of the metal fouling. Such further details are, however, obvious to those skilled in the art of cleaning firearms and do not form a part of this invention. Obviously it is essential that the emulsion, with the dissolved corrosive salty residue and admixed materials, be substantially removed before evaporation causes redeposit of the corrosive residue.

I claim:

1. The process of cleaning firearms, which consists in treating the bore surfaces with a free flowing non-corrosive aqueous emulsion containing a large percentage of water, an

oil phase, and a peptizing agglt, and in removing the' emulsion, with a ixed and dissolved materials, by swabbing.

2. The process of cleaning firearms which consists in treating the bore surfaces with a free flowing non-corrosive aqueous emulsion consisting of a water phase, an oily phase containing organic liquid matter soluble in oil and substantially insoluble in water, and

a peptizing agent, and in substantially re- 10 moving the emulsion, with admixed and dissolved materials.

3. That step in the process of cleaning firearms which consists in treating the bore WILBE T J. HUFF. 

